The Awakening
In Kate Chopin's lifetime, women did just what they were expected to do by fulfilling the role of the good housewife and good mother. A woman was expected to move from the protection of her father's roof to the protection of her husband. It was not appropriate behavior for a woman to do as she pleased or to have freedom from family, as in society today. In The Awakening Edna seems not to fit the stereotype that was expected of her and this eventually makes her husband seek help from Doctor Mandelet. It is here that Edna Pontellier says words that define The Awakening, "I don't want anything but my own way. That is wanting a good deal, of course, when you have to trample upon the lives, the hearts, the prejudices of others..." Edna awakens to what true happiness can be, but it is whether or not she is strong enough to pursue her quest for fulfillment. In the beginning of the story, Edna is a married woman with two children who seems vaguely satisfied with her life. Leonce, her husband, believes that Edna should be the stereotyped housewife that does all things that satisfy her husband's standards. However, when Edna does not seem to do as her husband pleases and does not abide by this Creole social code, Leonce reveal
Throughout the novel, Edna has many "awakenings", but one very significant awakening occurs when Edna realizes her dying love for Robert Lebrun. Edna's independence changes in various ways. She sends her two children away to Iberville. Then, she refuses to stay at home on Tuesdays and begins to go to frequent races and parties. Eventually, Edna realizes that Leonce does not matter to her anymore and that she would be much happier if she was with the man she truly loved, Robert Lebrun. Edna decides that she wants to "quit" her home on Esplanade Street, in which she lives with her family and move into a little house around the block. Edna feels, "a feverish anxiety attended her every action in that direction. There was no moment of deliberation, no interval of repose between the thought and its fulfillment." These actions that Edna takes are the steps that she believes will give her the freedom of her happiness and independence. It is so rare for a woman to behave in such a fashion like Edna does. Her fight for freedom against a society that shows no tolerance for her behavior was a very courageous thing to do in late 1890's. Although, Edna just wanted her freedom from her family and to live life independently, things did not turn out the way she had hoped. Her struggle for freedom and independence is inspirational and makes one see how lucky we are today to be able to live life openly and not controlled by another person. The way Edna chooses to have her freedom from her family is shocking an
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Approximate Word count = 1023
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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